Second-graders across the district study butterflies in the fall, and a local grassroots group is hoping the garden will get kids learning outside.

“This is our pilot project,” said Mary Jones, a member of the Lawrence Children and Nature Collaborative. “Our idea is to get children outside for a better inside.”

Second-grade teacher Christine Wesley and her students will be making the garden bloom.

“We’re going to plant the flowers that go in here once they’re delivered,” Wesley said. The design was created by Master Gardeners with K-State Research and Extension in Douglas County, and the plants in the garden are specifically attractive to butterflies. Second-graders will be planting the garden late next week.

Plus, the boys building it are all students at Prairie Park.

“They’re going to build it, so they will have some ownership in it,” Jones said.